However,sometimes the lasers, lights, and aliens are all fans really want from the genre.

Case in point, 2009s criminally underrated masterpiece,Moon.

Sam Rockwellcommands the screenwith his dual performances, whileDuncan Jonesthrives in what was his directorial debut.

10 Sci-Fi Movies With Very Little Social Commentary

Image by Federico Napoli

It even garnered praise from several astronauts for its overall accuracy.

3’E.T.

The film follows a dream-infiltrating thief who secures work by stealing ideas from the rivals of his contractors.

Dutch, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, holds a rifle in the jungle in ‘Predator’.

Image via 20th Century Studios

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

NEXT:The 50 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time, Ranked

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Cast Placeholder Image

Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista and Vin Diesel in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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Sarah Snook as John sitting opposite Ethan Hawke as Agent Doe in Predestination

Image via Pinnacle Films

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Young and Old Joe talkign in a diner in Looper

Image via TriStar Pictures

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Rita & William, wearing mech-suits, kneeling and looking ahead in the film Edge of Tomorrow

Image via Warner Bros.

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Image via Sony Picture Classics

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Sandra Bullock as Ryan Stone in her space-suit looking at an object offscreen in Gravity

Image via Warner Bros.

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Elliot and E.T. ride the bike across the moon

Image via Universal Studios

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Cobb sitting down and looking at his totem while holding a gun toward the ceiling in Inception

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Doc holds a controller next to Marty, both with shocked expressions, in ‘Back to the Future’.

Image via Universal Pictures

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